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Dedicated thread for advantech

Hello beekeepers, i have seen bits of info here and there over people using Advantech to build hives and lids with, although i have not used it myself, i did find it in a mom and pops building supply store finally. I wanted to have this thread to gather info AND real world reviews of this product. How long have people had this product in the field? Were they painted? Do the bees take to it like regular wood? Im not sure what all thicknesses it comes in, but this particular store has it in 3/4" and 1/2" thicknesses. The guy at the store told me it was primarily used for flooring that wont be covered for some time, and it can deal with wetness fairly well. Used for flooring seems like it would have to be pretty tough. Myself, i cant stand painting, and not to mention it can be costly. Is Advantech really the true wonder material that its all cracked out to be? It is fairly expensive 35$ a sheet (3/4") but it might well be worth it. Thanks guys for the input and your thoughts.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

I've been using the 1/2 zip board by advantech. I am using it for lids right now, last year I made lots of lids for nuc boxes and they look as good as the day I put them on, BUT they weren't outdoors the whole time. This spring I made migratory lids with cleats using the board. I haven't put them out yet but a friend told me his lids that didn't get painted are starting to peel( the outter coating). For me, I wouldn't use it for anything that comes in contact with the ground. I was going to use it on the sides of my nuc boxes but desided against it. My plan was to use dimensional lumber for bottom and front/back and dado in the sides.
The 1/2 inch should be around $22.00 a board, the 3/4 might be more then you need, stuff is heavy too.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

From the link above I see that the sheathing comes in 1/2 thicknesses and the thinnest the flooring comes in is 19/32. Also the sheathing comes in square edge and tongue and groove, whereas the flooring is just tongue and groove. Does is work very well for bottom boards?

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

I after reading all the fuss about it here on Beesource, i checked it out at the big box building store and was disappointed to find it was just wafer board, not really a plywood at all. Maybe I'm just prejudiced because of my past experience with wafer board and sawdust wood (particle board). -js

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

> disappointed to find it was just wafer board

That's rather like comparing engineered boards like Trex to particleboard. They are similar in concept, but the amount of the plastic/resin in Trex is much higher, and the outdoor performance is much different.

Advantech has a higher resin content that ordinary OSB (waferboard). Its performance in an outdoor environment is certainly improved compared to OSB.

However, Advantech, like ordinary OSB, is a product that the manufacturer expects to be used in a not exposed to weather location.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

That's rather like comparing engineered boards like Trex to particleboard. They are similar in concept, but the amount of the plastic/resin in Trex is much higher, and the outdoor performance is much different.

Advantech has a higher resin content that ordinary OSB (waferboard). Its performance in an outdoor environment is certainly improved compared to OSB.

However, Advantech, like ordinary OSB, is a product that the manufacturer expects to be used in a not exposed to weather location.

Very good points Graham, but as we all know sometimes it's not what a product is designed to do but what the product will ACTUALLY do that counts. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I thought that this thread was created for just that reason; namely to find out what the product will or will not do. I'm not saying to ignore the manufacure's warning/advice/instructions at all. I too am curious to hear the reports. Just my thoughts.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

I'm a contractor and I don't like to use new products, at least until they've been around for a few years and any unforeseen problems come to light. I was very skeptical when my local Lowes replaced 3/4 T&G plywood with Advantec. The first time I used it, maybe 2 years ago, I left a large scrap out in the weather. It's still sitting there, virtually unchanged.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

Dow never intended their blue insulating foam boards to be used in aircraft construction, either and don't warrant it for that purpose.

But it has been successfully used by EAA & homebuilders to make aircraft for about forty years now.

I think Advantech is well suited to all weather use in hive construction.
I paint mine, but have left a box I made last summer bare for evaluation, and presently shows no degradation other than sun bleaching a bit.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

Posted on a nuc thread earlier but I will repeat. More than ten years use of 3/4 advantech unpainted on a old trailor. Sits in the snow and rain, melting snow keeps it wet for more than a month at a time. One corner is punky now, the rest fine. Hauled crushed rock 2 feet deep on it this summer, still haul lawn tractor on it. It is tuff. Still not sure I would use it over standard wood hives or plywood nuc. Heavy, not that pretty and it does suck up the paint.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

it is what it is. it is used in building construction. it could be used to build and construct a beehive as well as a house. i would not buy it to build hives. ( lids or covers ) when you could find scraps on a job site for free, close to the size you need. ( it's expensive best to ask ) i have a bunch of scrap pieces i plan to make some covers and bottom boards with. i would not build boxes with it. cause you would have to nail or screw into the end grain of at least two pieces to the box. most likely the end with the dado. it's not desighned to be drilled or nailed into the end. it is desighned to be face nailed to a framed structure 3/4 tg for the floor 1/2 square edge to outer walls 5/8 tg or square with clips to the roof all face nailed. yes it holds up to moister longer and better. FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. but its still wood eventualy it comes apart if left in the elements unprotected. i would not spend money on it for building bee hives. when there are scraps of all types to be had.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

I was wondering how they might work as bottom boards mounted in a pallet. That requires some lateral strength, though, as all the pallet lifting force is exerted on them, multiplied by the number of pallets in the stack.

"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

Thanks guys for all the comments, we do have some 3/4" toungue and groove OSB at our local home depot. Although its about 22$ a sheet. I was wondering if it was a off brand Advantech product. The sign says OSB, it probably is. That would be pretty cheap for a Advantech material. Well next time i make bottom boards, and lids, im gonna use the Advantech. And YES i will paint it. I might try a few lids with not painting, just to test it out in the Texas heat.

Re: Dedicated thread for advantech

There is a lot of info on this thread, so I will add mine. I have been using it for about 5 years, absolutely no problems with it.

I like Advantec for tops. I paint most of them, but not all. They are great for drilling the hole for through the top jar feeders. I will post a photo of top feeders using Advantec. Some painted, some not.

Advantec is very heavy for bottoim boards of 10 framers, but, I use it in all my 5 frame nucs.

Advantec should not be compared to OSB. It is similar, but radically different, and infinately better. I have not found OSB to be good for any part of a bee hive except perhaps the top when covered with metal. Even then, not great.

I have never had Advantec to separate, but, it will warp if placed in an uneven position. When used as a migratory top, the bees will seal the top and you will not get warping. It will not warp or separate when used as floor of bottom board.

For migratory tops, it is well worth the $32.00 per sheet. I would paint it just to make it better.

Advantec is not just wafer board. Much, much, better.

I built a 5 frame nuc from Advantec, using box joints, (photo attached), but I prefer solid wood for sides/ends of nucs and 10 framers.